The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 7 letter word CHIPPER
I've seen this crossword clue in Financial Times
C
H
I
P
P
E
R
More clues leading to the result CHIPPER
- Cheerful transport company has new leader
- Bubbly‘s cold, getting cooler
- Well, it’s a kitchen device
- Lively golfer producing lofted shot?
- Traveller returns, after shaving, in high spirits
- College joint for one that’s cheerful
- Happy golfer taking easy shot to green?
- Cheerful sculptor?
- Particular potato topping for each, full of beans
- Well, Dubliners might get hot food from here
Buddy explains!

The straight part
We know that "Cheerful" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case cheerful = chipper.The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.
What does CHIPPER mean?
CHIPPER adjective- Exhibiting a lively optimism; in high spirits, cheerful.
- A fish and chip shop, or more generally a cheap fast food outlet, typically selling chips and other deep-fried foods.
- A deep frier.
- A machine that reduces organic matter to compost; depending on size, whole tree trunks are reduced to sawdust; a woodchipper.
- (smoking) An occasional tobacco user, or more generally drug user.
- A machine that chips potatoes ready to be fried and made into chips.
- A company that manufactures potato chips/potato crisps.
- Someone who chips (e.g. wood).
- A player who chips the ball.
- A golf club for making chip shots.
- To chirp or chirrup.